First drive: 2013 Audi S6

First drive: 2013 Audi S6

byGraeme Fletcher | February 14, 2013

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2013 Audi S6.

Graeme Fletcher, National Post

2013 Audi S6.

Graeme Fletcher, National Post

To paraphrase Lil Chris — “You don’t have to take your clothes off to have a good time!” The Audi S6 takes the base A6 and adds some key hardware, including a high-output engine, better suspension, bigger brakes and a raft of gizmos. In short, it takes the mortal and transforms it into something rather special, providing the most fun a driver can have with his clothes on.

Talking about clothes or in this case, the sheet metal the S6 wears — the 2013 S6’s body is 20% aluminum, including sheet and cast aluminum components — it is lighter than the outgoing model. This and the adoption of a new twin-turbo V8, which replaces the previous V10, delivers a ride that can only be described as energetic.

Yes, the new twin-turbo, 4.0-litre V8’s 420 horsepower is more than ample by any measure, but it is the torque figure that really makes this thing sing — 405 pound-feet of torque anywhere between 1,400 and 5,200 rpm. This gives the S6 a very fast tip-in response and an enviable turn of speed from rest to the sort of speed that sees the car impounded and me dining at the expense of Her Majesty. Even when everything is set in the Comfort mode (more on this in a moment) it romps off the line with authority. The reason is simple: The horsepower peaks just 300 rpm after the torque and it keeps pulling through to 6,400 rpm. In the end, it gave this driver one seriously cheese-eating grin. Any car that runs from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.6 seconds and turns the more important 80-to-120-km/h passing move in 3.9 seconds tends to grab the driver’s attention in a hurry.

The new engine features cylinder deactivation, so when the revs and loads are low, it shuts down four of the eight cylinders. To compensate for the imbalance and harmonic vagaries this causes, there are active engine mounts and four microphones that listen for the change in tone quality. When the V8 goes into the fuel-saving four-cylinder mode, the system fires a counteracting sound through the audio equipment. It worked well enough that it is very difficult to tell which mode the engine is in. A job well done!

The power is relayed to the road through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system and a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission that features functional paddles regardless of the main shifter’s position (Drive, Sport or Manual). The gearbox is a delight that snicks through its gears seamlessly and like greased lightning. Head into a fast corner, pull the paddle a couple times and the box rev-matches as the engine braking comes on line. It sounds so seductively naughty whenever it blips the throttle it becomes intoxicating — unlike so many turbocharged V8s, Audi’s retains some needed basso profundo, which underscores the S6’s potency.

The Quattro all-wheel drive system ensures the power is put down peerlessly. In this instance, the system sends 40% of the torque to the front wheels and the remainder to the rear. It can, however, send up to 70% of torque to the front, 80% to the rear or split the power evenly front-to-rear depending upon the conditions and how the S6 is being driven. The system also puts Audi’s sport differential to very good use. It adds torque vectoring to the basic ability — the outside rear wheel gets more power, which turns the car into a corner with less steering input, greater precision and virtually no understeer. It adds up to a ride that responds to driver input with unerring accuracy.

The S6 also earns an adaptive suspension. The electronically controlled air suspension also features continuously adaptive damping. The combination delivers a good balance, thanks to the ability to tailor the ride according to the situation. Drive Select allows the driver to chose between Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes. Comfort relaxes everything, while Auto switches between Comfort and Dynamic. The latter sharpens the throttle response, the transmission holds its gears longer and it adds a rewarding growl to the exhaust note. My preferred setting was Individual — the suspension on Auto and the engine/transmission, exhaust, steering and differential set to Dynamic. When so set, it handled city driving comfortably and hunkered down very nicely when the hammer was firmly planted.

Inside, the changes are as noteworthy. The 10-way power seats are supportive, the driving position just about perfect and the access to everything very easy thanks to the multi-media interface (MMI). Unlike so many similar systems, which are all-encompassing in nature, MMI is simple to understand and easily navigated. The cabin is also lavishly tailored. The leather is supple and features a bold diamond pattern with an S6 logo embossed in the upper section. One of the defining touches, and one of the reasons Audi interiors are held in such high regard, proved to be the optional Beaufort oak accents ($500) — the trim resembles the deck of a finely crafted yacht. I would be remiss if I did not mention the optional Bang & Olufsen sound system — 1,400-watts and 19 well-placed speakers say it all.

The test car also arrived with a number of other options — the LED headlight package being the highlight. True, $1,700 is not cheap, but the return on investment is well worth it. The illuminated jewels not only add more sophistication to the look, they are exceptionally good at piercing a gloomy winter’s night. In fact, they made normally powerful high intensity discharge headlights seem rather mediocre.

The S6 really is a capable ride that is both full-on sports car and high-end luxury car at the same time. It accommodates four adults and their luggage with ease and in an opulent environment. It also wafts along the highway quietly and comfortably. However, crank up the tone of the drive and it becomes a high-flying speedster with wonderful handling and tenacious grip. Lil Chris must have taken one for a spin.